These lace up Alexandre Birman caused quite the stirrrr on my Instagram. I have promised to share with you where I bought them and whilst at it I have lined up a list of my current online shoe favorites: all affordable, all mega stylish and all from one destination, which in this case is Shopbop.com. Now the very ones in the photo seem to have sold out but I have found some gorgeous alternatives, complete with shopping links below:

Schutz nubuck sandals. The nude strappy heel is seen everywhere right now (rightfully so as it’s versatile and universally flattering). This cross strap makes them a tad different to all the rest however. (Link HERE).

Mustard hued, pointy toe, every day pumps (link HERE). Mustard is a great shade when worn with jeans so these would look great with a double denim shirt / boyfriend jean combo.

Belle by Sigerson Morrison suede flats. Wear them with your simple t-shirt dresses. They feel a bit more ”current” than gladiators and have a cool urban vibe to them because of the ankle cuff detail. The nude color makes them leg elongators as opposed to leg shorteners. That part Ladies is VERY important when buying flat shoes. (link HERE).

More lace ups; this time in aqua blue. To be worn with a juicy palm leaf printed kaftan – imagination going wild! (Link HERE).

I am not personally feeling the slides that all the cool kids are fashionably dragging their feet around in at the moment – there is something a tad too physio nurse about them. (That in it’s turn could originate from the time when I whilst putting myself through uni worked as one); but personal stories aside I much prefer classical toe ring sandals. They’re a tad more feminine whilst just as comfy. (Link HERE).

Ultra similar to my red ones, these strappies come from Brazilian label Shutz who kind of are the ZARA of footwear. They make decent quality imitations of designer shoes and are very comfortable to wear – same cannot be said about most designer heels sadly! (Link HERE).

The white lace creation I wore with the shoes is from a label called Endless Rose and can be found HERE. / XXX

When it comes to evening time entertainment I am very much of a civilized dinner / sunset drinks kinda girl. Whilst the pure thought of setting my foot in a night club makes me shiver, I am ALL KINDS of ok with a classy lounge where I can stamp my foot and sway my hips side to side to some ambient tunes and have a flavorsome cocktail or two.

I recently discovered TOMO at the Raffles hotel.

Whilst the concept of fine Japanese food is no news to Dubai (in fact we are quite spoiled in that department), what TOMO has that others don’t is

- a sensational skyline and

- to die for yuzu Bellinis. Oh, and did I mention the homemade mochi ice cream?

Would I go to TOMO again? Definitely – it’s a great place to take a few health conscious girlfriends to, seeing as Japanese food is quite lean and Paleo / gluten free. The outside terrace is the spot to be at so late September onwards the venue will be one of my preferred after work turfs. / XXX

Recognize this shot? The velvet racer back Anne Griffin tank top from shopcrocus.com (link HERE) has worked very well with my ever expanding selection of pencil skirts.

The team at Shop Crocus have curated a lovely selection of affordable every day must haves. Keeping that in mind, I have put together a little edit of things I find necessary for a good capsule warderobe. Dressing for daytime (and sometimes evening too if you put a creative spin onto your separates) becomes a lot easier once your basics are:

1. of good quality; 2. the proper size and fit for your current shape (and not the shape you once had or the one you are aiming at eventually having); 3. when they come in at least 2-3 samples. This applies to your most beloved pieces; for example if you find the Holy Grail of the perfect white t-shirts, purchasing 1 won’t be enough.

Here goes; the pieces I think you should have a closer look at (including shopping links). You’re welcome.

Sylvia Benson boho earrings (link HERE). Whilst I love ethnic vibes in my accessories I always try to balance boho with elegant. Too much of the first one and it all turns a tad too ”girl who went to a festival in Goa and forgot to bring deodorant” if you catch my drift. Keep it prim and polished with a slight nod towards boho – like with these handcrafted gold earrings.

MiH denim in grey (link HERE). I love the way their skinnies fit and the Grey Kiss wash is really versatile.

SPLENDID is another brand I keep on raving about and their cashmere is of really good quality that does’t cost as much as the high end equivalents. (Link HERE). If you live in the UAE and want to carry something light with you for the blasting mall air cons this is the piece for you.

This might not be a basic separate and more of a standalone statement piece but this Tracy Reese poncho (link HERE) is a geometrical eye feast.

The recent onset of travel photos has lead into me getting asked if I have turned into a travel blogger. Can I be greedy and say that all I want right now is to travel loads and wear nice clothes whilst at it?

The majestic Qasr Al Sarab has been on my staycation bucket list for ages, seeing at it was located a mere 3 hours drive from Dubai and got mentions in pretty much all luxe travel guides that I had laid my hands on.

Discovering the resort in the proverbial Middle Of Nowhere (or The Empty Quarter as the region is called) was really magical, just when we thought that we were lost the most regal looking settlement arose from the middle of the dunes. The interiors were’t too shabby either if you know what I’m sayin’.

We braved the heat (which was bearable seeing as the humidity levels were a lot lower than to what they are in the seaside city of Dubai) and sat on the terrace overlooking the dunes pretty much the entire duration of our stay. If you aren’t staying in one of the private villas make sure you ask for that very room (as opposed to the garden ones). They were the best value for money in my opinion and seeing the sun descent behind the sand from the comfort of your sun lounger was breathtaking even for a desert dweller like myself.

The signature Anantara spa treatments are not to be missed, I also really loved that the brand of products used in the treatments was UAE founded organic Shiffa.

Gathering in the library at 4.30 am was tough but seeing the sun rise after the dune bashing session (one that made my boyfriend oh-so-happy) made up for the early call time. Having been to a few of the desert excursions in my days in the UAE I was a tad blasé at first. I mean, it’s just driving right? In a car crammed with screaming German grannies, lead by a driver I don’t feel too confident about and ending at a desert camp as busy as Dubai Mall on a Friday.

Rest assured all my doubts were quickly diffused. Private car took me and The Boy to a secluded breakfast spot and the driver was as knowledgeable as he was skilled at maneuvering the 4×4 in the natures own sand castles. This my friends was pure class and the only screaming granny was me.

I would very much like to go back to Qasr Al Sarab when it gets a little cooler. It’s a perfect city escape, far enough to feel like a get away but close enough to go over the weekend. I hear the archery classes are a must try and during the winter season the al fresco dining around a fire pit are unforgettable according to other reviews. Until next time then? X

When it comes to day to day basics I have always strongly relied on Gap. Their boyfriend denim (playfully named Sexy Boyfriend), as well as white Oxford shirts are timelessly cut and a solid core of my day to day warderobe. This summer however I am learning that there is more to Gap and here are a few key trends that I am welcoming into my closet:

- Crisp whites. My most recent purchase is a laser cut trimmed floaty skirt in the most summer appropriate of hues. White on white has an understated elegance to it that is surprisingly easy to pull off. The only catch is to remain crisply white, something I personally struggle with. The solution to tomato juice stains is to buy two of your favourite white pieces and research stain removal potions way in advance.

- Chambray. Playful and easy on the skin, chambray shorts and dresses are great for day wear. Add a gladiator sandal or an espadrille for effortless comfort, elevate the look by wearing a wedge. Accessories are essential, the more the better and don’t be afraid to intentionally mismatch your jewelry. It adds character to your look.

- Shorts. Find a length that suits your shape, wear with the above mentioned white Oxford shirt and a Fedorahat. Honed limbs are a must and make for the best accessory.

- Playsuits. Often perceived as a daytime piece, the playsuit is really versatile and looks the part when worn as evening wear, with a statement pair of heels. Blazers add on to the sharp evening look and as a bonus protect you from the blasting ACs we get exposed to in the summer.